Predictions of Low Turnout Continue

Here's more grist for the churning discussions about likely turnout for tomorrow's primary election.

Fairfax County Elections Registrar Rokey W. Suleman II is officially predicting it'll be low in his neck of the woods. Suleman said that as of Saturday night, voters had mailed 1,679 absentee ballots, of which, 759 had been returned to the office. An additional 754 Fairfax residents had voted early in person as of Saturday night, an option available since May 18.

"That's a very very low number," he said.

He said Fairfax election officials are predicting turnout between 5 and 7 percent, figures they have come to by looking at ballots already cast but also through subjective measures, like how many phone calls the office has been receiving.

He said there has been something of an uptick in interest in the last few days--188 early voters came out on Friday and Saturday alone. But he said at this point, he wouldn't be surprised to see turnout dip even lower than 5 percent.

Polls open tomorrow at 6 a.m. and will remain open until 7 p.m. The primary is open, meaning voters who consider themselves Democrats, Republicans, Independents or other are all welcome.